Communication selectors having marking control of individual outlets



Jan. 14, 1969 3 STOLZE ETAL 3,422,228

COMMUNICATION SELECTORS HAVING MARKING CONTROL OF INDIVIDUAL OUTLETS FilGd Aug. 51, 1965 CONDUCTORSZ C ONNECT ION BRANCHES FOR TESTING E FOR MARKINGzd SELECTOR L 1 MLZ MUU i ML9 L MLB 1 MB 51 L Y 5 aw (M1 (M2 GM1U an WJEROTARY SELECTORS Arw z E i j l RECEIVER QE kfi F F ssuon 1 United States Patent 3,422,228 COMMUNICATION SELECTORS HAVING MARK- ING CONTROL OF INDIVIDUAL OUTLETS Georg Stolze and Jakob Mayridl, Munich, Germany, assignors to Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich, Germany Filed Aug. 31, 1965, Ser. No. 483,983 Claims priority, application Germany, Sept. 9, 1964, S 93,045 US. Cl. 17918 6 Claims Int. Cl. I-I04m 3/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to marking-controlled communication selectors, and more particularly to selectors (e.g. of the rotary or relay counting chain type) which are marl-cable over a number of circuits which are small as compared with the number of positions of the selector. The invention is particularly characterized by the fact that the marking conductors provided for each step or position of the selector are subdivided into groups and that corresponding marking conductors of the different groups are joined into common marking lines (MLl- ML10), while the marking conductor assigned toeach group (GMl-GM10) is connected to a secondary winding of a transformer (KWlX-KWIOX) which is common to the group. In addition, the said common marking lines (ML1-ML10) are connectable to a marking potential source (PG) over marking connection means (Wr2), and the secondary windings of each of the transformers are connected to marking receiving connection means (E). Alternatively, the marking lines (MLl- ML10) 'may be connected to marking receiving connection means (E) and the aforementioned secondary .w-indings may be connected to the source of marking potential. In addition, the marking circuits are actuated successively by control of the selector.

The invention further contemplates that the marking lines (MLl-ML10) may he connectable over one marking connection means (Wr2 )controlled by one digit of the calling number, while the marking receiving connection means (B) may be connectable over another 'marking connection means such as a device (Wrl) responsive to a second digit of the calling numbers.

Cross-references to related applications Applicants claim priority from corresponding German application Ser. No. S 93,045, filed Sept. 9, 1964.

State of the prior art In circuit arrangements of the type to which this invention relates, the positions of, e.g., wipers on outlets, are marked by selectors which may be l-ine selectors or route selectors, in order to direct the selectors to the appropriate positions and stop them there, for example for the purpose of establishing the connection. It is also possible to mark positions of selectors in order to deduce criteria from the markings which are utilized for other purposes, as in the case of overload of the selector,

For the purpose of marking selectors to set them, it is known to connect as many marking lines to the selector as there are outlets present and to set a selector on one of its outlets by connecting a marking potential over the marking line corresponding to this outlet, the selector itself testing for this potential during hunting thereof. In order to decrease the requirements for numhers of marking lines, it is also known to subdivide the outlets of a selector into outlet groups (for example, in the case of line selectors, into decades), and to provide ice marking conductors individually assigned to each of the outlets of an outlet group jointly for all outlet groups (multiple connecting), and in addition to provide group marking lines which permit marking of the first one of an outlet group. In this system an outlet is marked by marking the marking line connected to it and to the.

outlet in the other decades, as well as the group marked lines assigned to its outlet group. The selector in such a system is set on this outlet :b-y first proceeding in the hunting condition to a group marking position marked over the group marking line, and from there to the outlet marked over the marking line. Thus, the outlet is marked in coincident fashion at the group marking position, over the marking conductor assigned thereto.

The marking of the outlet at two different points requires an additional stoppage of the selector upon its setting on the group marking step, which should be considered as a rest position. This stopping and the starting again of the selector requires added time and is therefore disadvantageous. For this reason, circuit arrangements have been developed which make possible the coincidence marking of a selector outlet over several connection branches. In such circuits a selector outlet is marked in such way that at different contact banks (that is, at outlet contacts of the same outlet), a marking is connected. The selector is stopped on that outlet on which it finds marking potential over the two-mentioned connection branches at the same time. This arrangement makes special requirements for the selector connection branches and the contact banks, with corresponding disadvantages.

This invention has for its primary object to make possible the marking of,a dial selector over a series of contact points (such as the bank contacts of a rotary selector) in such fashion that each marking is effected only over a single contact point, through avoidance of the disadvantages of the known arrangements.

An advantage of the invention is that rotary selectors can be moved directly from their zero positions to the marked outlets .without time loss. A further advantage is that selectors for testing a marked step only have to have one connection branch, in the case of a rotary selector, or corresponding contacts in the case of relay counting chains selectors. In accordance with a further development of the invention the marking lines and the marking receiving connection means can be connected by operation of two different marking connection means, operated, e.g., vby two different received digits. This makes it possible to arrange the outlets of the selector in decadic groups, and to set the selector by two digits so that one of the digits indicates the group and the other digit the outlet in this group.

According to a further development of the invention, the marking connection means and the marking receiving connection means are common to several selectors, so that only one control means need he provided for the control of a multitude of selectors.

In accordance with a further development of the invention, several marking connection means and several marking receiving connection means are each provided in several corresponding control sets and joint marking lines, marking conductors and transformers are provided for the several control sets. Further, the markings of the several control sets are different and cannot be confused so that several control sets can control the selector over a common selector multiple, at the same time.

Description of the invention The invention will now be more fully described in conjunction with an operative embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing the single figure is a schematic view of an operative embodiment of the invention in the detail necessary to the understanding of the operation thereof.

The connection branches a, b, c, and d are connection branches of a line selector L. The branches a and b operate in known manner to provide a through-connection of the speaking conductors to thereby complete a communication or call connection. The branch similarly is operative in known manner to provide for testing of the line. The connection branches a and 12 therefore relate to the conventional pair of speaking conductors, typically identified by the labels and and provide both for transmission of signals relating to conversation, and of tone and other signals which are not required during the conversational period. The c conductor, known as a private or P-wire in an automatic exchange, is employed for carrying out, generally, all testing, switching, metering, holding, and releasing conditions. The connection branch es a, b, and c are moved in coordinate fashion with movement of the connection branch d to corresponding ones of their respective banks of contacts in accordance with the marking operation of the line selector L. Thus, the connection branch d serves to set the line selector on certain outlets, which, for this purpose, can be marked over the bank contacts associated with the branch 0!, and over the marking conductors assigned thereto.

Marking lines ML1 to ML10, and group marking lines 'GMl to GM are connected with bank contacts of two rotary selectors or digit switches Wrl and Wr2, which serve as marking connection means. These rotary selectors are associated with a control set ES which is common to several line selectors. The control set ES is connectable in known fashion for the purpose of seizing the line selector, through control from starting selectors which are not shown. Instead of the rotary selectors Wrl and Wr2 in the control set ES, other connection means, such as contacts of a relay counting chain, can be utilized. Both sets of means will indicate the digits which serve to set the line selector at the marking lines and the group marking lines.

The rotary selector Wrl serves to indicate the first digit to be processed by the line selector, indicating the transformer K1 to K10, while the rotary selector Wr2 is responsive to the second of such digits, indicating the particular marking line associated with that transformer. 'In the control set BS is further contained a sending means S and a receiving means E which respectively operate to provide the testing potential, and to receive a marking which has been tested by the line selector L.

In a typical installation, for example, several control sets may be provided, but only a single control set is here shown. The control sets are connected with a pulse generator PG which is common to the plurality of control sets and which successively connects thereto sound frequency alternating current pulses, so that only one of the control sets is fed by the pulse generator with alternating current at any one time. For this purpose, the pulse generator is provided with a pulse switch PS which rotates at a substantially higher speed than does the line selector L, so that a multitude of pulses can be transmitted over the marking test connection branch d of the line selector L, upon setting upon a bank contact. The result is that the receiver E, which is provided for the marking test, is not adversely influenced improperly in its testing function, by reason of the phase position of the pulses as compared with the rotational movement of the line selector.

The line selector L is provided with driving magnets M1 and M2, the selector being of the well known motordriven type. These magnets are located in a circuit of a type well known and are provided with cam contacts m1 and m2 controlled by the motor, and with spark extinguishing capacitors F. The motor circuit is also provided with a stop contact 1p, and a starting contact an.

If the selector is to be set upon one of its outlet positions, the rotary selectors Wrl and Wr2 are first set by operation of the two digits which are to be processed in the line selector, in a well known manner over circuits which are not shown. For instance, the two digits might both be the numeral two. If such be the case, the rotary selector Wrl operates to connect the receiver E with the marking line GM2 for the second group, by reason of the first digit. The marking line is connected to ground over the escondary winding KW2X of a transformer K2. All of the man-king conductors assigned to the second decade of outlets of the line selector are respectively connected through primary windings KWZl-KWZO to the marking lines ML1, ML2 ML10, which are common to all decades (that is outlet groups). The desired value of the unit and decade positions are selected by the corresponding first and second digits which rotate the rotary selectors Wrl and Wr2 to their respective second positions.

In the drawing, there are shown transformers K1, K2 K10 representative of a plurality thereof provided in the selector L. These transformers define corresponding groups of outputs of the selector L. Each transformer includes magnetic cores having rectangular hysteresis characteristics, linked by a corresponding plurality of primary windings and a secondary winding. For example, the transformer K1 includes the primary windings KW11, KW12 KWlO and the secondary winding KWIX. Marking conductors are connected thorugh the primary windings of the transformers to respectively associated contacts of the bank of contacts of the connection branch d. As also clearly shown in the drawing, corresponding marking conductors of the plurality of groups are electrically interconnected by common marking lines or conductors ML1, ML2 ML10, which, in turn, are connected to corresponding terminals of the rotary selector Wr2. Further, the secondary winding of each transformer, such as KWlX, KWZX is connected to a respectively associated group marking line GMl, 'GM2 One end of each group marking line is connected to ground and the opposite end is connected to a corresponding terminal of the rotary selector Wrl.

When the two rotary selectors Wrl and Wr2 have been set to the positions determined by the two received digits, a relay (not shown) is energized and closes its contacts an in the driving circuit of the rotary selector. As a result, the motor circuit of the selectors is closed over its coils M1 and M2, so that the motor starts. The connection branches a, b, c and d of the selector now traverse the contact banks assigned to them. When the connection branches reach the first bank of contacts the following circuit is closed over the connection branch d:

1 s, Wr2, ML2, Kw12, d, s

So long as the connection branch d is connected with this corresponding bank contact, alternating current pulses are transmitted in this circuit to the transformer K1, and more particularly over its winding KW12. These pulses of course are correspondingly induced in the secondary winding KWlX of the transformer K1, but these pulses have no effect on the receiver B, since the connection branch of the rotary selector Wr1 is positioned on the second step, rather than on the first step. Accordingly, the line selector L continues stepping without interruption until it reaches step 22. In this step the individual marking conductor is connected with the winding KW22, and with the second step of the rotary selector Wr2, over the common marking line ML2. In this case the following circuit is completed:

(2) S, Wr2, ML2, KW22, a, S

In this circuit, as in the first circuit referred to above, during the time of connection of the branch d with the bank contact, alternating current pulses are transmitted to the transformer K2, and more particularly through its winding KWZZ. These alternating current pulses are induced into secondary winding KWZX of the transformer K2, and are transmitted to the receiver E in the following circuit: (3) Ground, KW2X, GM2, Wrl, E

The relay P connected to the receiver E is now energized by reason of reception of these alternating current pulses by that receiver. Energization of relay P causes engagement of its contacts 1p to cause stoppage of the selector motor and cause the selector to stop in its twenty-second position.

It will be seen, therefore, that any selector step of selector L is marked by reason of connection of the bank contact connection to the connection branch d with the sender S (over the rotary selector Wr2), as well as by connection of the secondary winding of the transformer which is associated with the outlet group containing that dial selector step with the receiver E (over the rotary selector Wrl). It will also be seen that it is possible to exchange the positions of the sender S and the receiver E in these circuits, so that the sender S, instead of being connected between the connection branch d and the rotary selector Wr2, is connected between ground and the rotary selector Wrl. correspondingly, the receiver then would be connected, instead of between ground and the rotary selector Wrl, rather between the connection arm d and the rotary selector Wr2.

If several control sets ES operate simultaneously with several individual line selectors L, the simultaneous selecting processes do not interrupt one another, since the testing circuits of the different control sets are decoupled from one another by time separation, in known fashion. Further, in this connection, the sender and the receiver of each of the control sets are each effectively connected only in pulse fashion.

It is also possible to connect private branch exchanges to the outlets of the line selector. In the drawing, the bank contacts corresponding to selector digits 01, 02, and 09 are connected as private branch exchange lines. These lines can be reached through dialing of digit 01. The private branch exchange comprises the first two and the ninth outlet in the tenth decade, that is not the third or fourth through eighth outlet in this decade. In any event, the private branch exchange can be reached by the calling number which corresponds to the first outlet in the selector multiple which is assigned to the private branch exchange. Thus, if the mentioned P.B.X. is dialed by the dial digit 01, then the rotary selectors Wrl and Wr2 operate to mark the group marking line GM10 and the marking line ML1. This marking operation effects those bankv contacts of the contact bank of connection branch d which each are connected with the marking line ML1 over a different winding of the transformer K10. The marking conductors of all outlets of a P.B.X., with the exception of the last outlet, are connected over rest contacts of such relays of the PBX. which are assigned to those outlets and which have dropped off during the open condition of the PBX.

Now, if the transformer K10 and the marking line ML1 in the line selector are marked through dialing of digits 01, the marking of the marking line extends through to the marking conductors of all of the outlets of the PBX. which are free. In any event, the marking line extends to the marking conductor of the last outlet, even if it is not free. The selector is started and then stopped on the first selector step on which a marking is received from the receiver E. When all outlets of the PBX. are busy, the line selector is stopped on the last outlet assigned to the PBX.

By means of the invention it is possible to change the assignment of dialable digits to outlets, in a simple manner, such digits being for instance the last two digits of subscriber calling numbers. The connection of a marking conductors which leads from a marking line (such as conductor which leads from a marking line (such as transformer (such as K2) to a bank contact of the contact bank assigned to the connection arm d of the line selector determines the connection position which is to be reached with these digits, for the line to be connected. This means that two particular last digits of the subscriber calling number can be assigned to a line connected to any particular outlet of the selector, by connecting to the bank contact of the contact bank corresponding to the connection branch d the marking conductor which leads to that marking line corresponding to the second of the two digits, over a winding of the transformer which corresponds to the first of the two digits. In such fashion it is possible to distribute P.B.X. lines over the entire multiple of selectors, so that load distribution of advantageous kind can be achieved in respect of all of the lines connected to that multiple.

It will be evident that many changes could be made in the apparatus of the invention without departure from the scope thereof. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered limited to the particular embodiment described herein, but rather only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A circuit arrangement for a marking-controlled communication selector having a number of positions in which connections are made to different communication conductors, and a drive circuit for advancing said selector through said positions and in which the positions are marked by a number of circuits smaller than the number of selector positions, wherein the improvement comprises a marking conductor for each position of the selector,

the marking conductors being divided into groups, each said group comprising a plurality of marking conductors, a transformer (K1; K2 K10) for each said group having a secondary winding (KWIX; KW2X and a plurality of primary windings (KWll, KW12, KW21, KW22 inductively related to each other, the marking conductors of each group being individually connected with different primary windings of the transformer for that group,

a plurality of common marking lines (ML1 ML10) each connected to corresponding marking conductors of each of said groups,

a source of marking potential (PG),

a sender circuit (S) connected to said source of marking potential and operable when connected to one of said transformer windings to connect the said source thereto to cause a voltage pulse to be induced in other windings of that transformer,

a receiver circuit (E, P) operable when connected to one of said transformer windings in which a voltage pulse is induced to halt operation of said drive circuit to stop advance of said selector,

a pair of marking connection means (Wrl, Wr2), one of which is connected to said sender and the other to said receiver, a first one of said marking connection means (Wrl) being operable to connect to a selected one of said secondary windings of the different transformers the one of the sender and the receiver to which it is connected, the second one of said marking connection means (Wr2) being operable to connect to a selected one of the common marking lines (ML1 ML10) the one of the sender and the receiver to which it is connected,

and means controlled in response to said marking connection means for starting said drive circuit upon completion of setting of said pair of marking connection means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said first marking connection means (Wrl) is connected to said receiver and said second marking connection means (Wr2) is connected to said sender.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said selector is of the rotary switch type and its conditions are positions thereof with wipers on different bank contacts.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which each of said marking connection means (Wrl, Wr2) is a rotary switch having its wiper connected to one of the sender and receiver circuits and its stationary contacts respectively connected to different ones of said common marking lines (Wr2 connected to ML1 ML10) and to diiferent ones of said secondary windings (Wrl connected to KWIX, KWZX 5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said marking connection means (Wrl, Wr2) are responsive to successively transmitted digits.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said source of marking potential (PG) includes a source of alternating current and a cyclically operated switch (PS) operable to connect the output of that source successively to different senders.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LAURENCE A. WRIGHT, Assistant Examiner. 

